Smoke on the Water

Day 15

Have you ever noticed how it is hard to see clearly through the heat rising from a hot tub. I love to take an early morning soak in the hot tub when we visit my brother and sister in-law Dawn and Scott up state New Jersey in Kinnelon, 20 miles from High Point State Park where the Appalachian Trail runs through the state on its way to Maine. I think that the hot tub is a wonderful place to think in the mornings. The smoke makes a fitting analogy for my cluttered mind. When I try to string together my thoughts, my words come out awkward and slow, jumbled. But when I have a chance to stop and think, my mind has a chance to clear, like the smoke on the water.

This morning what was cluttering my mind was why I had been avoiding working on putting my thoughts on paper again. I had been really excited about writing a book, and I felt like it was something that God was calling me to do. But then I hit a stand still. MJ and I came to visit his family up in Jersey. Dawn and Scott and MJ and I had a double wedding 13 years ago, and we were celebrating our anniversary. MJ and Dawn’s parent’s Don and Jackie came with us, and it was also Don’s 69 birthday. We were married on his anniversary. Several of the family members on my husband’s family’s side came to Dawn and Scott’s to visit for the 4th of July weekend—two aunts, first cousin and second cousins.

I am going to enjoy the trip and spend some time talking to the family. I don't get to see Mike's Aunt Jackie, Donna, Aunt Sue and Uncle Steve often. Scott's parent's are here too. When I was talking to Aunt Jackie, she convinced me that I just needed to write and not worry about who would be reading my writing. I just need to write for myself. I decided to create a blog, and then I can write every day, or every week. Thank you, Jackie!